HeartRock Live - Review: Dog and Parrot 22/5/15

Kicking Saturday night off at the Dog and Parrot in Newcastle, was the dynamic five piece: Where Fires Are. The alt-rock group evoked an electric atmosphere, captivating the room through their colossal sound. Such an atmosphere was heightened by their superb stage presence, privileging the audience with their animated music and expressive groove. It is clear to see that these lads love the thrill of performing and radiate an exuberant vibe. The band are so in sync with one and another that even when the boys became submerged in their jam, their bold jives were in perfect time with another, almost resembling a hypnotic dance routine. Their sound was characterised by explosive bridges, poignant bass lines, regimented drums, hearty guitar riffs and keyboard/synth work that Kraftwerk would be proud of. The band's vocalist possesses a range as big as the sound of the rest of the group, indulging the audience with a ballsy grit and charming smooth mellifluous tones that resembled those of Anthony Kiedis from Red Hot Chilli Peppers. The group are volcanic and could easily fire up hige stadiums through their untameable energy. Where Fires Are - a must see band.

The second act of the night was a charming acoustic set from the amiable and incredibly talented Harry Smith. His compelling set drew parallels with the likes of Billy Bragg and Frank Turner, but his originality was cemented by his 'happy go lucky' indie vibes. Smith is the epitome of the canny lad next door, as shown through his light-hearted banter between songs, chatting away about everything from Eurovision to ensuring the other acts received a round of applause. However, the Newcastle College student's greatest asset is his soulful voice, driven by his apparent passion and flair for music. He opened his set with a cover of Catfish and the Bottlemen's 'Kathleen', bringing a delicate sincerity to the indie guitar rock anthem. Smith then executed an enchanting original, 'Forget your name', which showcased his panache for song writing, conveying the classic break up woes in a raw and evocative manner. His set concluded with a cover of (as the quirky lad put it) the "Queen of all that's good and proper" Lana Del Ray. Smith's rendition of 'West Coast', was true to the original, but was made his own through emphasising the gorgeously bluesy tone to the song, 'butching it up' and making it slightly more upbeat in the process. Smith possesses the wonderful ability to please a crowd with iconic anthems but adds a refreshing twist to the songs, preventing him from being boxed into the 'copy cat cop out' category. He is an incredibly talented performer with a driven and cordial manner that will firmly establish him in the local music scene.

Next up was Deep.Sleep, an indie four piece with a flair for creating chilled, summery, 'happy go lucky' vibes.Their sound is a middle ground between Circa Waves and early material from The Vaccines, consequently creating that mirthfully iconic indie dance sound. The band's upbeat tunes and friendly nature managed to get the whole room moving and ensured that people were too busy dancing to linger around the bar. Their cover of Catfish and the Bottlemen's 'Pacifier', concocted a mellow, suave mood that was kept upbeat by front-man Frend's gritty yet peppy vocals - making the song the perfect soundtrack for starting up the Barbie with your mates this summer. Their original number 'You', was a quirky, 'feel good' tune about that wild mate we all know and love, that will undoubtedly get crowds moving and singing along. However, the band's stand out tune was '1994', a vivacious track about that fantasy older girl. '1994' is the classic indie tune, fuelled by animated riffs and cheeky, cheerful lyrics. The band enthralled the entire room, uniting all present into a carefree dance. Deep.Sleep know how to get a crowd moving and are at their best when they channel the tales of chilling with the gang, romantic confusion and the ups and downs of late teenage-hood. These lads will thrive in the local indie scene.

Closing the night was the powerhouse metal band Shard of Ruin, a band with an uniform of denim, leather, long hair and even longer guitar solos. A gorgeously heavy and gritty sound was evoked from the band, making the crowd go wild with their domineering, Herculean riffs and aggressive drums. The group execute old school metal excellently, showcasing their skilled musicianship through the sheer variety in their music. The epitome of which was their volcanic track 'Tears of a Hero', the Beowulf of metal songs. The track is an epic saga of extreme riffs and a vast world of tempos that concocted an immense, euphoric atmosphere. If you like your music loud, Shard of Ruin are your men.

Follow and support the bands at:

Where Fires Are:

https://soundcloud.com/wherefiresare

https://wherefiresare.bandcamp.com/track/good-luck

https://www.youtube.com/user/wherefiresare

https://www.facebook.com/wherefiresare

https://twitter.com/wherefiresare

https://instagram.com/wherefiresare/

Deep.Sleep

https://soundcloud.com/deepsleepuk

http://www.musicglue.com/deepsleep/

https://www.facebook.com/deep.sleepUK